Measure 14 Electronic Exchange of Clinical Information

14 of 15 Core

Stage 1

Electronic Exchange of Clinical Information
Objective	Capability to exchange key clinical information (for example, problem list, medication list, medication allergies, and diagnostic test results), among providers of care and patient authorized entities electronically.
Measure	Performed at least one test of certified EHR technology’s capacity to electronically exchange key clinical information.
Exclusion	No exclusion.

Definition of Terms

Diagnostic Test Results- All data needed to diagnose and treat disease. Examples include, but are not limited to, blood tests, microbiology, urinalysis, pathology tests, radiology, cardiac imaging, nuclear medicing tests, and pulmonary function tests.

Different Legal Entities - A separate legal entity is an entity that has its own separate legal existence. Indication that two entities are legally separated would include (1) they are each separately incorporated; (2) they have separate Boards of Directors; and (3) neither entity is owned or controlled by the other.

Distinct Certified EHR Technology - Each instance of certified EHR technology must be able to be certified and operate indendendtly from all the others in order to be distinct. Separate instances of certified EHR technology that must link to a common database in order to gain certificatoin would not be considered distinct. However, instances of certified EHR technology that link to a common uncertified system or component would be considered distinct. Instances of certified EHR technology can be from the same vendor and still be considered distinct.

Exchange - Clinical information must be sent between different legal entities with distinct certified EHR technology and not between organizations that share a certified EHR technology. Disting certified EHR technologies are those that can achieve certification and operate independently of other certified EHR technologies. The exchange of information requires that the eligible professional must use the standards of certified EHR technology as specified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, not the capabilities of uncertified or other vendor specific alternative methods for exchanging clinical information.

Patient Authorized Entities - Any individual or organization to which the patient has granted acces to their clinical information. Examples would include an insurance company that covers patient, an entity facilitating health information exchange among providers, or a personal health record vendor identified by the patient. A patient would ahve to affirmatively grant access to these entities.

Attestation Requirements

YES / NO

Eligible professionals (EPs) must attest YES to reporting to having performed at least one test of certified EHR technology's capacity to electronically exchange key clinical information prior to the end of the EHR reporting period to meet this measure.

Additional Information

• The test of electronic exchange of key clinical information must involve the transfer of information to another provider of care with distinct certified EHR technology or other system capable of receiving the information. Simulated transfers of information are not acceptable to satisfy this objective.

The transmission of actual patient information is not required for the purposes of a test. The use of test information about a fictional patient that would be identical in form to what would be sent about and actual patient would satisfy this objective.
When the clinical information is available in a structured format it shoudl be transferred in a structured format. However, if the information is unavailable in a structured format, the transmission is unstructured data is permissible.
EP's can use their clinical judgement to identify what clinical information is considered key clinical information for purposes of exchanging clinical information about a patient at a particular time with other providers of care. A minimum ser of information is identified in the HIT Standards and Criteria rule at 45 CFR 170.304(i), and is generally outlined in this objective as: problem list, medication list, medication allergies, and diagnostic test results. An EP's determination of key clinical information could include some or all of this information, as well as information not included here.
An EP should test their ability to send the minimum information set in the HIT Standards and Criteria rule at 45 CFR 170.34(i). If the EP continues to exchange information beyond the intitial test, then the provider may decide what information should be exchanged on a case by case basis.
EP's must test their ability to electronically exchange key clinical information at least once prior to the end of the EHR reporting period. Testing may also occur prior to the beginning of the EHR reporting period. Every payment year requires its own, unique test. If multiple EP's are using the same certified EHR technology in a shared physical setting, testing would only have to occur once for a given certified EHR technology.
An unsuccessful test of electronic exchange of key clinical information will be considered valid for meeting the measure of this objective.

Built with help of DrExplain